Elegiac Stories
I would describe myself as a happy person yet the music I find I’m invariably drawn to is that which is serious even sombre. This mood taps into my soul more directly and helps me reflect on things more effectively. The mere title of this disc appealed to me straightaway.
Josef Suk’s Elegy for Piano Trio started out as a work written for violin, cello, string quartet, harmonium and harp. It was composed to mark the first anniversary of the death of writer, dramatist and poet Julius Zeyer (1841-1901). The arrangement heard here for piano trio is more effective with the achingly beautiful tune coming out in a more undiluted fashion which makes the clean lines so much more telling. Someone wrote that if one had identified Suk’s music as being by Dvořák then one would be as close to being right while still being wrong. The music of Suk who was Dvořák’s son-in-law was so very similar, occupying the same central European romantic soundscape.
The Eben Trio play all the works beautifully and when they are joined by Kristina Fialová (Terezie’s sister?) they become a very effective quartet. I’m sure we will hear more from these talented musicians.
Steve Arloff
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/Aug13/Elegiac_stories_UP01432211.htm
